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Porsche to release Cayman GT4 Clubsport racer in LA

Next month’s Los Angeles Auto Show will see Porsche unveil a racing version of the Cayman GT4 developed for competition in the USA by Porsche Motorsport in Weissach.

The new car, which will sit below the Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car in Stuttgart’s racing ladder, will be officially known as the Cayman GT4 Clubsport and, for 2016, will be homologated to compete in America series such as the Pirelli World Challenge, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the GT3 Cup Trophy USA.

Stripping out unnecessary weight from the interior, the Cayman GT4 Clubsport will hit the scales at 1,300kg including a full welded-in roll cage, racing bucket seat and six-point harness.

9A1 engine from the GT4 road car will be retained in 385hp guise.

At the rear, the 3.8-litre flat six 9A1 engine from the road-going Cayman GT4 returns although this time it will be exclusively paired with a PDK gearbox and mechanically locking differential.

Also like its production sibling, the Cayman GT4 Clubsport will use 911 GT3 front suspension. However, to cope with the rigours of racing, the Clubsport version will use the struts from the 991 GT3 Cup racer, rather than the current road car.

The brake system features 380mm discs at all four corners with steel rotors rather than ceramics, no doubt because of the car’s low weight and a need to keep running costs in check for amateur racers.

991 GT3 Cup suspension will be used on the Cayman GT4 Clubsport’s front end.

By using the Clubsport name on this racing version of the GT4, Porsche has still left the door open for a Cayman GT4 RS in the future, something that Andreas Preuninger has hinted at many times recently.

As you can see, no pictures of the new racer are available yet, with more details and images due when the car is officially released at the LA Auto Show on 18 November. Order books will open on the same day.

Although not mentioned, it is likely the car will be homologated to official FIA GT4 rules meaning that, wherever in the world you are, you should see a Cayman GT4 battling it out on track near you in a sports car championship next year.

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PDK replaces the GT4’s manual gearbox to provide better shift times and more drivability.